“I don’t have any willpower with food.”
This is the lie we tell ourselves so that we don’t feel bad about eating junk food. Lying to ourselves may make us feel better for a while, but it doesn’t help us make better choices. This belief is poisonous to our motivation to eat better and be healthier. No one is perfect; we’re not looking for perfect, we’re just looking for better than yesterday.
“I get frustrated and quit.”
The diet industry is partially to blame for this. So many commercials seem to peddle quick fix diets or chemicals. Just sprinkle our fairy dust on your ice cream cone and you’ll lose weight. It’s dishonest; there is no quick fix. Long-term results require a long-term commitment to change. You’re tougher than you think; you can do what you decide to do. Just remember, your diet plan doesn’t have to remain the same from day one until the day you transition to weight maintenance.
“I can choose to think differently.”
Strength and weakness are both states of mind, choose strength. You’re the captain of your ship, not the ocean. When events overwhelm plans, stay at the wheel. Some events are outside of your control; it’s how you react to those events that define who you are. Learn to identify those things you can control in any situation, and assert your control. Learning to consistently think this way takes time and practice, but the power to make better choices is already yours.
“I don’t have to do what I’ve always done.”
Don’t define yourself as a powerless person. This simple step is the cornerstone of behavior change. So long as you define yourself as powerless to change, you will be. The fancy medical phrase is the locus of control, which simply means taking responsibility for your choices. You must accept responsibility for your choices, good and bad, in order to change your behavior. Today is the day to begin making healthier lifestyle choices. Choose to live a healthier life.
H. Allen Chapman, PA-C
Physician Assistant – Certified
Alaska Premier Health
